Piping system drain down tool

ABSTRACT

A piping system drain down tool allows for a controlled draining of any pipe or piping system in a safe, efficient and professional manner. Current methods for draining piping systems is messy, time-consuming and uncontrolled. The piping system drain down tool includes a boring shaft that can turn to penetrate a pipe clamped into the tool. A seal prevents water from leaking and directs draining water out through the tool and through a valve and a hose connector, where a hose can be connected to direct flow of the draining water. The tool can also be used to create a water supply tap at any location within a water system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/598,393, filed Feb. 14, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to plumbing accessories and, more particularly, to a piping system drain down tool.

When a water supply piping system needs to be drained down, the results are often achieved through an uncontrolled, time-consuming, messy and unprofessional performance. Conventional methods for draining down a piping system including cutting into the water line. As the cut pierces the line, water, which may still be under pressure, can shoot out in several directions. As the cut is completed, the water flowing from the pipe can be difficult to control, contain, or direct to a desired location.

When working at a job site, water is often needed. For example, a mason may need a source of water for mixing mortar and this water may not be readily available in a building. There is currently no convenient way to access a water supply piping system to obtain a controlled flow of water.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device that can be used for the controlled drain down of a water supply piping system as well as for creating a source of water from such water supply piping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a plumbing tool comprises an upper clamp body; a lower clamp body hingedly attached to the upper clamp body; a pipe clamp surface region defined by the upper clamp body and the lower clamp body; a mechanism for securing the upper clamp body closed against the lower clamp body; a main valve body penetrating through the pipe clamp surface region at a location; a pipe seal surrounding the location that the main valve body penetrated through the pipe clamp surface region; a boring shaft movable in the main valve body, the boring shaft operable to press against a pipe disposed inside the upper clamp body and the lower clamp body; and a connector to direct fluid from the pipe out of the main valve body.

In another aspect of the present invention, a plumbing tool comprises an upper clamp body; a lower clamp body hingedly attached to the upper clamp body; a pipe clamp surface region defined by the upper clamp body and the lower clamp body; first and second threaded securing swivel rods swiveling from one of the upper clamp body and the lower clamp body and connecting into a channel formed in the other one of the upper clamp body and the lower clamp body; a main valve body penetrating through the pipe clamp surface region at a location; a pipe seal surrounding the location that the main valve body penetrated through the pipe clamp surface region; a boring shaft movable in the main valve body, the boring shaft operable to press against a pipe disposed inside the upper clamp body and the lower clamp body; a hose connector to direct fluid from the pipe out of the main valve body; and a shut-off valve controlling the flow of fluid out of the main valve body.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a piping system drain down tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the piping system drain down tool of FIG. 1, illustrated in an open configuration showing positioning of a pipe therein;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the piping system drain down tool of FIG. 1, illustrating an exemplary pipe disposed therein and further illustration turning of a boring shaft to drill into the pipe;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, illustrating a boring shaft penetrating through the pipe and the pipe being clamped in the piping system drain down tool of FIG. 1, further illustrating a hose connector valve in a closed position; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, illustrating the boring shaft penetrating and removed from the pipe to permit water to drain out of the pipe and through a hose connector attached thereto with its valve in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a piping system drain down tool that allows for a controlled draining of any pipe or piping system in a safe, efficient and professional manner. Current methods for draining piping systems is messy, time-consuming and uncontrolled. The piping system drain down tool includes a boring shaft that can turn to penetrate a pipe clamped into the tool. A seal prevents water from leaking and directs draining water out through the tool and through a valve and a hose connector, where a hose can be connected to direct flow of the draining water. The tool can also be used to create a water supply tap at any location within a water system.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, an upper clamp body 10 can be hingedly connected to a lower clamp body 12. Various hinge types can connect the upper clamp body 10 with the lower clamp body 12. For example, a clamp hinge pin 22 can be used to provide a pivot axis between the upper clamp body 10 and the lower clamp body 12. An inside of the upper clamp body 10 and the lower clamp body 12 includes a pipe clamp surface 36. When the upper clamp body 10 and lower clamp body 12 are closed together (as shown in FIG. 1, for example), the pipe clamp surface 36 forms a generally round shape having an inside diameter that is about the same as an outside diameter of a pipe 40.

A threaded securing swivel rod 18 can pivotably extend from one of the upper clamp body 10 and the lower clamp body 12. Typically, the swivel rod 18 extends from the upper clamp body 10 by a swivel rod hinge pin 24. The swivel rod 18 can swivel into a channel 44 formed in the lower clamp body 12 and wing-nuts (or other such nuts) can secure and tighten the upper clamp body 10 to the lower clamp body 12.

A pipe seal 16 can be disposed on the upper clamp body 10. The pipe seal 16 fluidly connects a main valve body 14 to the inside of the pipe 40 when a hole is cut into the pipe 40 with a boring shaft 32. The boring shaft 32 can move through the main valve body 14 and press against the pipe 40, where turning the boring shaft 32, for example, with a drill or hand crank, can cause the boring shaft 32 to drill into the pipe 40, allowing water 42 to flow out through the hole. Because the hole formed in the pipe is surrounded by the pipe seal 16, water does not leak out through the upper and lower clamp bodies 10, 12.

The boring shaft 32 can be attached to the main valve body 14 with a shaft seal nut 30. A shaft seal 34 can prevent water from leaking out through the boring shaft 32 and shaft seal nut 30.

A hose connector 26 can be fluidly connected to the main valve body 14. The hose connector 26 can include hose threads for removably attaching a hose thereto. A shut-off valve 28 can be disposed either as a component of the hose connector 26, or on the main valve body 14 at the location where the hose connector 26 is attached. The shut-off valve 28 can be used to control the flow of water out of the tool of the present invention.

To use the tool, a user simply wraps the upper clamp body 10 and the lower clamp body 12 around the pipe 40. The swivel rod 18 can be placed in the channels 44 and the nuts 20 tightened to secure the upper and lower clamp bodies 10, 12 about the pipe 40. The boring shaft 32 can be turned and pressed against the pipe to bore a hole therethrough. Water can be drained out of the system and this draining can be controlled with a shut-off valve 28. A hose (not shown) can be attached to the hose connector 26 to drain water to a remote location.

A shaft stop can be provided to prevent the boring shaft 32 from extending to contact the opposite side of the pipe 40. The shaft stop can take various forms. For example, the shaft stop can be a ring disposed on a drill attachment end of the boring shaft 32 so that the boring shaft 32 cannot be slid too deep into the main valve body 14.

While the above describes a hose connector, other connectors can be used here. For example, a normal pipe thread (NPT) connector can be used instead of the hose threads, allowing pipe thread connectors to be used with the tool of the present invention.

The tool of the present invention can be made of one or more various materials. For example, the components can be made from steel, aluminum, brass, copper, chrome, hardened steel, plastic, ABS plastic, Teflon, rubber, and the like.

The tool of the present invention can be designed to attach to various pipe sizes. For example, the tool can have a pipe clamp surface 36 sized for ½, ¾, 1″, 1.5″, 2″ and other sizes of pipe. The boring shaft 32 can be designed for boring holes in various pipe materials. The boring shaft 32 can be designed, for example, for boring through copper, steel, iron, plastic, or the like.

While the above describes a tool for draining water, the tool could be used to drain other systems safely and efficiently. For example, a pressurized gas system could be drained with the tool of the present invention. Of course, in this embodiment, materials should be selected that are compatible with flammable materials.

As described above, the tool of the present invention can be used not only to drain water systems, but also to provide a controllable water source at a desired location. The tool can be attached to provide a temporary water tap that can supply water, for example, for workers on a work site.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1-9. (canceled)
 10. A plumbing tool comprising: an upper clamp body and a lower clamp body hingedly attached to the upper clamp body, inner surfaces of the clamp bodies defining a pipe clamp surface region, the tool comprising a pipe seal that extends outwardly from the inner surface of the upper clamp body; a main valve body coupled to the upper clamp body, the main valve body defining a first passageway that extends through the pipe seal and into the pipe clamp surface region and a second passageway that extends transverse to the first passageway; and a boring shaft movably disposed within the first passageway, the boring shaft being operable to press against a pipe disposed inside the pipe clamp surface region.
 11. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, wherein the pipe clamp surface region forms a generally round shape having an inside diameter that is about the same as an outside diameter of the pipe.
 12. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the lower clamp body is continuously curved from a first end surface of the lower clamp body to a second end surface of the lower clamp body.
 13. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 12, wherein the upper clamp body comprises a third end surface that engages the first end surface and a fourth end surface that engages the second end surface when the upper clamp body is closed against the lower clamp body.
 14. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the lower clamp body is smooth and free of any projections.
 15. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, wherein the boring shaft comprises a stop ring extending from an outer surface thereof, the stop ring being configured to engage the main valve body to limit the distance the boring shaft can extend into the main valve body.
 16. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, wherein the boring shaft has a cutting edge configured to create a cylindrical hole in the pipe.
 17. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, wherein the boring shaft comprises a helical cutting edge extending from an outer surface of the boring shaft.
 18. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, wherein the passageways are in communication with one another, the second passageway extending perpendicular to the first passageway.
 19. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, wherein the main valve body comprises a first portion that includes the first passageway and a second portion that includes the second passageway, wherein a hose connector is coupled to the second portion, the hose connector comprising a threaded outer surface and defining a third passageway that is in communication with the second passageway.
 20. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, further comprising a shaft seal and a shaft seal nut sealing the boring shaft to the main valve body, the shaft seal nut being coupled directly to the main valve body.
 21. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, wherein the upper and lower clamp bodies each comprise spaced apart flanges that define an aperture therebetween, one of the flanges of the upper clamp body being disposed in the aperture of the lower clamp body and one of the flanges of the lower clamp body being disposed in the aperture of the upper clamp body.
 22. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 10, further comprising first and second threaded securing swivel rods swiveling from the upper clamp body and connecting into a channel formed in the lower clamp body to secure the upper clamp body closed against the lower clamp body.
 23. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 22, wherein a first swivel pin extends through the first threaded securing swivel rod and a second swivel pin extends through the second threaded securing swivel rod, the first and second swivel pins extending through the upper clamp body such that the first and second threaded securing swivel rods are pivotable about the first and second swivel pins.
 24. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 22, wherein: the boring shaft defines a longitudinal axis; and the first and second threaded securing swivel rods each extend parallel to the longitudinal axis when the upper clamp body is closed against the lower clamp body.
 25. A plumbing tool as recited in claim 22, wherein: the boring shaft defines a longitudinal axis; and the channels each extend parallel to the longitudinal axis when the upper clamp body is closed against the lower clamp body.
 26. A system comprising: a pipe; and a plumbing tool comprising: an upper clamp body and a lower clamp body hingedly attached to the upper clamp body, inner surfaces of the clamp bodies defining a pipe clamp surface region having a generally round shape, the pipe being disposed within the pipe clamp surface region, the pipe clamp surface region having an inside diameter that is about the same as an outside diameter of the pipe, the tool comprising a pipe seal that extends outwardly from the inner surface of the upper clamp body, a main valve body coupled to the upper clamp body, the main valve body defining a first passageway that extends through the pipe clamp surface region and the pipe seal and a second passageway that extends transverse to the first passageway, and a boring shaft movably disposed within the first passageway, the boring shaft being configured to create a cylindrical hole in the pipe.
 27. A system as recited in claim 26, wherein the main valve body comprises a first portion that includes the first passageway and a second portion that includes the second passageway, wherein the system further comprises a hose connector coupled to the second portion, the hose connector defining a third passageway that is in communication with the second passageway.
 28. A system as recited in claim 27, further comprising a hose having a threaded inner surface that engages a threaded outer surface of the hose connector.
 29. A plumbing tool comprising: an upper clamp body and a lower clamp body hingedly attached to the upper clamp body, concave inner surfaces of the clamp bodies defining a pipe clamp surface region, the inner surface of the upper clamp body having a continuous radius of curvature that is equal to that of the inner surface of the lower clamp body such that the inner surfaces form a pathway having a circular cross section when the upper clamp body is closed against the lower clamp body, the tool comprising a pipe seal that extends outwardly from the inner surface of the upper clamp body; a main valve body coupled directly to the upper clamp body, the main valve body defining a first passageway that extends through the pipe seal and into the pipe clamp surface region and a second passageway that extends transverse to the first passageway; and a boring shaft movably disposed within the first passageway, the boring shaft comprising a helical cutting edge extending from an outer surface of the boring shaft, the boring shaft being configured to create a cylindrical hole in a pipe positioned within the pipe clamp surface region. 